summer music: rufus, nationals, and more

summer music: rufus, nationals, and more

One of the great things about New York City in the summer is the number of opportunities to catch live music outdoors all around town. On Thursday night, the Lula Washington Dance Theater kicked up the energy at Lincoln Center‘s Out of Doors series. Of note was the first half of the show, which matched the dancers with a live jazz band. On Friday, down at South Street Seaport The National drew a huge crowd for their free River to River show. I’m a fan.

And finally, yesterday a steady rain didn’t scare away fans who stood for hours to catch the generous show by Rufus Wainwright in Central Park. A highlight of Rufus’ two-hour plus set was a hilarious encore moment channeling Judy Garland… If you’re heading to a Wainwright show soon, read no further and don’t click the YouTube link above. For the rest of you, the clip showcases Wainwright’s lip-syncing of his own recording of “Get Happy” at Glastonbury this summer, performed with his fellow bandmates. It tops recent tours in which he enlisted bandmates to fall to the ground during one song or lovingly crucify him for another. He’ll be performing as Judy Garland just one last time soon (because its “so fuckin’ hard,” he said last night), at a Hollywood Bowl gig on September 23rd. Tickets are still available, I am sure it will deliver, the guy’s a true showman. Always a treat.